The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announces that Pious Lion located in Asheville, NC is voluntarily recalling two of their kratom products: Pious Lion Pure Premium Potent Limited Release Pink Bali, 1 oz and Pious Lion Pure Premium Potent White Maeng DA, Bright Uplifting Energy, 4 oz due to the presence of Salmonella . Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis, and arthritis.

On 15 May 2018, the firm was notified by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services that the product tested positive for Salmonella and the company stopped shipping products that day. While tests conducted on the products on behalf of Pious Lion by an independent laboratory did not reveal the presence of Salmonella out of an abundance of caution, in the interest of consumers, the company is voluntarily recalling the products. No illness have been reported to date. The products were distributed between 9 Apr – 16 May 2018. These products were packaged in clear plastic pouches and sold primarily directly to consumers or in retail stores located in the States of North Carolina and Tennessee.